Divisible bullet-proof shield



(No Model.)

0. ADA-MS.

DIVISIBLE BULLET PROOF SHIELD. No. 877,782. Patented Feb. 14,1888.

'7 v 0 E7. 05 5% I Ix Witness 8.- Lwgntor,

N. PETERS, Pioluiflhographer, Washington, 0. c.

UNITED STATES CASSILLY ADAMS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

DIVISIBLE BULLET-PROOF SHIELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377,732, dated February 14, 1888.

Application filed July 3, 1885. Serial No. 170,579.

.To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GASSILLY ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Divisible Bullet- Proof Shield, of which the following isa speciflcation.

This invention relates to those portable bullet-proof shields which are capable of being conveniently carried either by infantry or mounted men while on the march, and yet can be used for protecting each individual soldier, or can be readily arranged to serve as a breastwork for sheltering a line of men from the enemys fire; and my improvement comprises such a construction of shield as will of necessity produce a continuous zigzag or chevron-shaped barricade the momenta breastwork is erected. To accomplish this result, each shield is composed of a pair of plates of any suitable material-*steel or iron being pre ferred for obvious reasonsthe vertical margins of these plates being bent to form obtuse angles, and being provided with convenient retaining devices wherewith said plates are united. Asa natural result of this arrangement of said flanges the plates are disposed at a proper angle with reference to each other, and the coupling together of a number of such plates or sections causes the breastwork or barricade to assume a continuous zigzag, chevron, or dancette shape, which defense can be erected in a few minutes and without requiring any special skill on the part of the soldier or calling in the aid of an engineer to run the lines for the works.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the front side of a shield embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rear side of the shield. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a modification of my invention. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of a number of shields coupled together, so as to form a continuous zigzag breastwork or barricade, said section being taken at the dotted line a of Fig. 1.

Each individual shield consists of a pair of bullet-proof plates or sections, A B, of any suitable size and, material, the two vertical (N0 model.)

upon the'soldiers left arm, while his hand grasps the handle J of the other plate, A.

Handle J is hinged to said plate, so as to be turned down flat, and thereby economize space in transportation.

H are loopholes in the plate A, and ii are slots near the edges of the latter, which slot-s admit straps wherewith the soldier carries the shield; or they may receive other straps or fastenings when a number of said plates are nested together for shipment.

It is evident that when a number of these shields are fitted together and properly secured they must of necessity form a continu ons zigzag, chevron, or dancette shaped breastwork, as seen in Fig. 4, behind which barricade the soldiers are protected and discharge their guns either through the various portholes H or over the top of said shields, as may be the most effective. Furthermore, it is ap parent this zigzag barricade is formed at once by the soldiers, and without any special skill on their part, the only precaution necessary being to insert the pins in the appropriate holes and then drive the keys Ginto the slots of said pins.

Fig. 3shows a modification of my invention, in which two upper sections, k k, are coupled to the main plates of the shield.

I claim as my invention- 1. Ashield for the protection of a single man, which shield consists of two portable bullet-proof plates, each plate being provided with a pair of vertical obtuse-angled flanges united by readily detachable retaining devices, in order that the coupling together of a number of such shields will of necessity form a continuous zigzag'or chevron-shaped breastmargins of' each plate being bent to form ob- I work, as herein described.

IOC

2. A shield for the protection of a single Work, one of said plates being provided with man, which shield consists of two portable aport-hole, H,and handle J, and the other [0 bulletproof plates, each plate being furnished plate having a strap attached thereto, for the with a pair of vertical obtuse-angled flanges purpose specified. united by readily-detachable retaining de- OASSILLY ADAMS. vices, in order that the coupling together of a \Vitnesses: number of such shields will of necessity form CHARLES C. ADAMS,

a continuous zigzag or chevron-shaped breast- JAMES THOMSON. 

